Movies are meant to be a reflection of our reality, and that’s what debutant director Vikramjit Singh explores through his staggeringly gorgeous canvas in ‘Roy’. A movie that starts off promising to be a heist film, but ends up slipping into an emotional drama about self-discovery.

It’s a classic case of how we rarely (almost never) practice what we preach. Singh’s stunning cast voice filmmaking tips that the director blatantly ignores.

"A story must end when it needs to. There’s no point stretching it," says his dazzling moviemaker Ayesha Amir, but Singh’s own ‘Roy’ runs into an exhausting 156 minutes of screen time.

Whether this was as much about Singh’s journey as it is of Kabir’s, one can never tell, but a line about “how did I make this film?” possibly exposes a connect.

‘Roy’ is textured and tinted marvelously by cinematographer Himman Dhamija, but Singh’s story is unable to lend it enough substance. Had Dipika Kalra exercised ruthlessness on the editing desk, it would’ve tipped the odds in its favour.

Concealed under puffs of smoke and a fedora hat, Kabir’s journey comes alive as he hits the keys of his antique typewriter and creates a sinful world of deceit and chase.

His Roy is designed on a celebrated thief, one who caught the director’s fancy when he was a young boy.

The story, now in its third stage, culminates in Malaysia, where he chances upon a charming inspiration.

Singh structures his narrative around Kabir’s reality and Roy’s infamous life. Their stories are intrinsically weaved, and swapped cleverly, to establish contradictions and revelations.

“We humans always want to steal someone else’s life and live it as our own,” hints the suave, leather-jacketed Roy. Singh further details how the men live magnificently as poster boys, even when they choose a life of secrecy.

The exercise appears tried and tested, and one that holds an uncanny resemblance to Hollywood veterans. Yet, Singh holds his own.

However, the transition isn’t clear, and often complicating. Even the conflicts that emerge appear inconsequential.

He uses a watch and cigar to link both the lives, but their actual relevance isn’t explained adequately.

Arjun Rampal conveniently hides his broody face under a hat, and an unkempt beard. When he’s not wasting much of his screen time sipping iced drinks, he’s clouding the frame with his puffs. The camera feeds off Arjun’s striking looks, but unfortunately Singh doesn’t flesh out his complexities and vulnerabilities convincingly.

Between all this, he finds time to romance, with the entertainment reporters pitching his current flame to number 23. Yet, we don’t sense any real chemistry between him or his squeeze.

Jacqueline Fernandez plays two parts, one of a discerning filmmaker, and other of a pretty actress Tia. Apart from the varying wardrobe and hairdo, there’s not much distinction in their portrayals, and that’s probably planned to unfold a bigger reality, but it never translates cleverly.

Ranbir Kapoor lends mystery to Roy, and never lets off his guard. It’s unfortunate though that his character isn’t permitted to thrive.

‘Roy’ is a marvelously shot movie, no doubt, and holds immense promise, but never quite sums up into anything of substance.

We only wish it was more about the heist, and less about the heart.

Some movie buffs shared their verdict on "Roy" on their Twitter pages, soon after watching it in theatres. We bring you unique Twitter comments on the film. Catch the live update of "Roy" movie review by viewers here:

PepperChilliCee ‏@PepperchilliCee

#Roy is a very slow movie with a weak story & screenplay. Songs/Music are okay. Actor's are not at their best. Rating: **

Himanshu Lakshya Chaturvedi @232649

‪#‎Roy‬ Interval: Very slow first half. Till the interval you can take a power nap smile emoticon It will take you in the extreme confusion of mind. Let's see if second half cab get some pace..

Rummana Ahmed @reachrummana

#Roy Interval: First half has been super slow. Hope the pace will pick up

Anindita dev @dev_annie22

#Arjun Rampal looks dapper in #Roy with a hat to complete his look #Anupam Kher plays the jolly dad of Arjun #Roy. Crowd welcomes Ranbir 's entry with cheers and applause #Roy. Bold and beautiful Jacqueline mesmerises the dapper Arjun #RoyJacqueline has a double role #Roy And damsel Jacqueline does a Chittyan Kaliyan on the streets of Malaysia. The look that Ranbir showers on Jacqueline can floor anyone. #Sooraj dooba hai #Roy is filled with suspense. #Roy is painstakingly slow. #Roy tense moment between Arjun and Jacqueline Yaara re is a heartbreaking track #Roy

Sonali ‏@spradhan1210

#Roy slow boring & trying to understand why Ranbir played that role any robot could. Disappointed

Manali Parmar ‏@manaliparmar

@RoyOfficialFilm is a very hard attempt at being artistic and miserably failing at it! #Roy